US Army Corps of Engineers

PLANNING SMARTBUILDING STRONG®

Project Planning with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)

Presenter Name

Presenter Title

Duty Location

Date of Presentation

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Initiating a Water Resources ProjectLocal perception of water resources problem or opportunityLocal perception of water resources problem or opportunity

Contact local USACE District Office

Contact local USACE District Office

Existing Authority to Investigate

Existing Authority to Investigate

District requests funding in the President’s budget and / or local sponsor requests Congressional delegate for Appropriations funding

District requests funding in the President’s budget and / or local sponsor requests Congressional delegate for Appropriations funding

No Current Authority to Investigate

No Current Authority to Investigate

Congressional Authority for Study

Congressional Authority for Study

When funding is appropriated,USACE District initiates study

When funding is appropriated,USACE District initiates study

Potential Sponsor submits “Letter of Intent” to DistrictPotential Sponsor submits “Letter of Intent” to District

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Implementing a Single Phase Feasibility Study

All feasibility studies subject to “3x3” rule – expected study duration of 3 years; total study costs $3 million

► 3x3 complaint Feasibility Cost Share Agreement (FCSA) will be used to initiate study

► Exemption process in place for complex and large scale studies that cannot meet 3x3 target, and considered after initiation of study

Study work does not begin until FCSA is signed The Project Delivery Team (PDT) will develop a 3x3 compliant

Project Management Plan (PMP) – or exemption request - by the Alternatives Milestone

SMART Planning Process reinforces risk-informed decisions and early vertical engagement

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Role of the SponsorA Study Sponsor is:

A 50-50 Cost Sharing Partner in the planning (feasibility) phase► Able to identify non-monetary (in-kind) services that support cost sharing

Fully engaged in the development and execution of the study

A Study Sponsor should be: Familiar with the SMART Planning process and the decisions to be

made at each milestone Familiar with USACE and Administration policies that influence

alternative formulation, screening, and selection and other key study decisions

Able to communicate a “locally preferred plan”, if there is one

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The Study Begins with the FCSA

The feasibility study starts – and 3-year clock starts – when the Feasibility Cost Sharing Agreement (FCSA) is signed

► Sponsors should work with local USACE District representatives to understand 3x3 model FCSA and importance of study’s first 90 days

What’s new with the model FCSA (2015 update)► No Project Management Plan (PMP) is developed before FCSA is

signed► Both USACE and the Sponsor assume some risk in agreeing to a

general 3x3 compliant scope without a PMP► The time and cost estimates for the study PMP will be developed

and verified during the Scoping phase

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SMART Feasibility Study Process Up to 36 Months

Release draft report for concurrent review

DE transmits final report package

ALTERNATIVE FORMULATION & ANALYSIS

FEASIBILITY-LEVEL ANALYSIS

CHIEF’S REPORT

TSP Milestone Vertical Team concurrence on tentatively selected plan

Civil Works Review Board Release for State & Agency Review

Agency Decision MilestoneAgency endorsement of recommended plan

Chief’s ReportChief’s Report Signed

2

3

4 5

SCOPING3-6 months

Alternatives MilestoneVertical Team concurrence on array of alternatives

1

• Identify study objectives

• Define Problems & Opportunities

• NEPA Scoping• Inventory & Initial

Forecast• Formulate

Alternative Plans• Evaluate alternatives

and identify reasonable array

• Develop PMP and Review Plan

• Initiate Exemption Process if necessary

Focusing on the Scoping Phase

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Scoping Process of identifying significant issues to

be analyzed in the planning study Begin scoping as soon as the study starts Integrate with other early planning activities Include affected Fed, State, Local

agencies, the public, and other stakeholder groups

Refine scoping throughout study Complementary to NEPA scoping

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Communication and Decision Making Tools

Hold a Charette or Workshop in Scoping phase: Ensure distinctly different viewpoints are represented► Invite the Sponsor, Fed and State resource agencies, the

vertical & horizontal team, stakeholders and the public to participate and share their views

► Or, collect different views as you see fit Use Available Tools for Documenting and Managing

the Study:► Decision Management Plan► Risk Register ► PMP Template► Decision Log► Report Synopsis

Tools Available on the Planning Community Toolbox AND http://www.iwrmsuite.us/

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For More Information

Your District Planners Planning Community Toolbox:

www.corpsplanning.us Manuals and Handbooks about Corps

Planning available on the Toolbox►Planning SMART Guide (2012, online)►Project Partnership Kit (IWR Report, 2001)►Planning Manual (1996)►Planning Primer (1997)